Metro
SAD! Travellers k!lled as bandits plant explosives on Zamfara road
An unconfirmed number of travellers on Wednesday were confirmed dead after a vehicle conveying them ran on explosives planted along the Dansadau-Gusau Road in the Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
An anonymous source told Daily Trust that the explosives were planted by some bandits after the completion of community work on the road.
The source, a resident of Yar Tasha village, narrated, “We recently conducted community work on the road and the bandits used that opportunity to plant the device at one of the spots.
“The victims were rushed to Dansadau General Hospital and nobody can ascertain whether they are dead or alive for now. Security personnel comprising soldiers and police have been deployed to the scene of the incident.
“It appears that the bandits in Zamfara State have developed a new strategy of operation, especially in this Dansadau axis. This is the second time they would plant an explosive device in this area within a week. They planted one on Sunday.
“Government should take decisive measures to stop this trend otherwise, travelling by road will now be a difficult thing among the people of the state. The security personnel and communities should be vigilant and always keep an eye on them. This is a terrible method deployed by the bandits and it needs to be tackled as soon as possible.”
Another resident of the area, identified as Abdullahi Dansadau, told Channels Television that a Volkswagen Golf 3 vehicle exploded after it ran over the explosives, killing three people, and leaving eight others injured.
“It was this morning, one Golf 3 vehicle stepped on the bomb and exploded. We have six dead bodies here now and eight others sustained injuries. The vehicle was destroyed completely,” Dansadau said.
However, confirming the incident in a statement made available to the TV station the Coordinator, Joint Media Coordination Centre, Joint Task Force North West Operation Fansar Yamma, Lit. Col. Abubakar Abdullahi, stated, “We acknowledge the reports regarding the suspected bandits planting explosives along the Dansadau-Gusau Road, which unfortunately led to some destruction.
“The safety and security of our citizens are of paramount importance. We are currently coordinating with local law enforcement to assess the situation and ensure that those responsible do not go free.”
When contacted on the telephone by our correspondent, the Public Relations Officer, Zamfara State Police Command, Yazid Abubakar, stated that he was yet to confirm the incident.
He also noted that he couldn’t ascertain the number of casualties and those injured.
He said, “At this moment, I don’t have such information but I’ll call the DPO there to confirm whether the incident happened. I’ll get back to you.”
In early September 2024, no fewer than eight security personnel were reportedly killed by bandits near the Tazame village of Tsafe LG of the state.
An indigene of the area, Mubarak Mohammed told PUNCH Online that the security personnel, consisting of five policemen and three soldiers, were attached to a road construction company, Satraco Nigeria Limited, when the armed bandits suddenly came out of their hiding place and opened fire.
Mohammed explained that the deceased police and military personnel were always on the road to give protection to the construction workers who were repairing the Gusau-Tsafe-Zaria road.
Daily Trust
A 77-year-old Nigerian Uber driver, Olatunji W. Bolaji, was killed in a shooting outside a hookah lounge in Philadelphia, United States.
Bolaji, who lived in Norristown, Pennsylvania, was on duty around 2 a.m. on Wednesday when he picked up a passenger, a 22-year-old man, outside the Byblos Hookah Bar near Rittenhouse Square in Centre City, CBS reports on Friday.
Police said shortly after Bolaji picked up the young man, another vehicle pulled up behind his SUV, and two men got out.
One of them opened fire, shooting both Bolaji and the passenger.
Despite being shot in the head, Bolaji managed to drive a short distance before crashing into a pole at 17th and Chestnut Streets.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
His passenger, who sustained gunshot wounds to the arm, leg, and stomach, was rushed to Jefferson University Hospital in critical condition.
Police say the shooting was captured on surveillance cameras, and the attackers were in a black Jeep Grand Cherokee believed to have Massachusetts number plates.
Authorities are still trying to determine the motive behind the attack. Investigators believe there may have been a physical altercation between the passenger and the suspects before the shooting.
Ride-hailing platform Uber has expressed sadness over the incident.
“Our hearts break for the driver’s family and loved ones in the wake of this devastating loss.
“We’ve reached out to police to offer our support as they work to bring those responsible for this heinous act of violence to justice,” the company said in a statement.
Neighbours have expressed grief over the killing of Bolaji, describing his family as quiet and hardworking.
A long-time family friend who once lived with Bolaji told NBC10 that he was a kind man who was always ready to help others.
He described Bolaji as a dedicated worker, a loving partner, and a proud father whose son is a college graduate.
According to the friend, Bolaji’s family is devastated by his death and is seeking justice.
A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to support Bolaji’s family.
The funds will go toward funeral and memorial expenses, as well as living and counselling costs during their period of mourning.
The Zamfara State Police Command has rescued six kidnapped victims following a search-and-rescue operation.
In a statement, the spokesperson for the command, DSP Yazid Abubakar, said the victims were rescued on Friday when a joint police and Community Protection Guard team on highway patrol along the Anka-Gummi Road noticed an abandoned ash-coloured Peugeot 206 by the roadside.
Abubakar said, suspecting a kidnapping incident, security operatives immediately launched a search operation, leading to the safe recovery of the six victims.
Those rescued, according to him, were Bakiru Muhammad Masama, Alyh DanTani Masama, Aminu Aliyu Bukkuyum, Ahmad Muhammad Masama, Umar Sa’idu Ruwan Jema and Shehu Mulluwa.
Parts of the statement read, “The rescued persons have since been reunited with their families.
“The state Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Balarabe Maikaba, commended the operatives for their prompt response.
“He reassured the public of the command’s relentless effort in collaboration with sister security agencies to rescue all kidnapped victims and ensure the safety of lives and property across the state.
“CP Maikaba further urged residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the nearest security agency for immediate action.”
Abubakar stressed that the state police command remained resolute in its mission to dismantle criminal networks and restore lasting peace in the state.
In what can be said to be a mystery, two suspected lovers were found dead in a room on Friday at Alo in Ankpa local government of Kogi State.
The duo suspected to be lovers were found dead stark naked on the man’s bed.
The deceased persons were identified as Sheriff Salifu and Blessing Adama both from Ankpa.
Confirming the incident, Kogi State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), William Ovye Aya who described the incident as sudden and unnatural, said the command was investigating the cause of the deaths.
SP Aya narrated that one Salisu Ibrahim from Alo in Ankpa came to the station at about 12 noon to report that his tenant, one Sheriff Salifu did not come out of his room as usual at about 09:31am.
“So, the brother of the deceased entered the room through the ceiling and met his brother and one Blessing Adama of Ojogobi Road Ankpa lying lifeless in the room. Both deceased were seen naked,” he said.
As a result, the PPRO stated that the Divisional Police Officer in Ankpa detailed detectives to the scene where they saw the bodies of the deceased persons, took photograph of them and the bodies to the zonal hospital in Ankpa where they were confirmed dead.
The state police spokesperson stated further that the bodies were also taken for postmortem examination to determine the cause of their death.
“But the family of the Sheriff requested that the body should be released to them. So, he has been buried according to Islamic rites, while the remains of Blessing Adama is still deposited at the mortuary,” Aya said.
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